K-State Ag Today: Simple soil test may save you on fertilizer
3:59 p.m. Friday, August 29, 2008
A deep-profile soil test could save money on unnecessary fertilizer.
Dave Mengel, a professor in the Department of Agronomy at Kansas State University, says most nitrogen is stored deeper than other nutrients; to get the necessary information, use a core collector to dig down deep.
"Take the first push down about a foot, and take off the top six inches of soil, and we'll use that for our basic fertilizer recommendations for pH and lime, phosphorous and potassium," Mengel said.
The first 6 inches of the first core sample should be placed in one container; the bottom half of the first core sample, along with a second, deeper core sample, should be placed in a separate container. Clearly label both containers, adding specific instructions about which nutrients you're looking for. The samples should be sent to the lab quickly, no more than two days after collection. Mengel says the second sample is easy.
"Just go right down in that same hole, and you get your second core that represents that, in this case, 12 - 24 inch depth."
Soil testing laboratory (.pdf)
Soil test interpretation and fertilizer recommendations (.pdf)
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